A 69-YEAR-OLD woman who suffered severe injuries in a house fire in Holywell has died.

Fire crews from Holywell and Flint rescued the pensioner, named locally as Sheila Lloyd, who was in the semi-detached property on Abbots Walk when the blaze started at about 10.45pm on Wednesday (January 26).

Mrs Lloyd was taken to hospital but later transferred to Whiston Hospital in Merseyside, where she later died.

A forensic investigator at the scene on Thursday (January 27) said a joint investigation by North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service was ongoing to determine the cause of the blaze.

It is now thought it could have started when Mrs Lloyd was smoking in bed. A North Wales Police spokesman confirmed the incident is not being treated as suspicious.

Darren Jones from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "This incident clearly highlights the dangers of smoking materials and the life-saving properties of smoke alarms.

"Many smoking related fires happen at night when people fall asleep or smoke in bed and furniture or fabrics are set alight.

"Worryingly research shows that smokers are less likely than non-smokers to have working smoke alarms which could alert them to the dangers and give the chance of escape.

"It is vital to make sure all smoking materials are put out safely, especially before bed time. The best way to cut the risk is not to smoke indoors at all.

"If you have elderly relatives or friends who are smokers, make them aware of the possible dangers."

Firefighters were in Holywell on Thursday (January 27) raising awareness of fire safety and offering free home fire safety checks to the public.